Gearing.



E. L. GALE, SR-

GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 3|. 191s.

Patented May 25, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

IN I/EN TOR WITNESSES: 1;, j

THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTC-LITHQ, WASHINGIDN. l1 L2 E. L. GALE, SR. GEARING.

jig-140,869 APPLICATION mm OCT. 31, 1913. Patented May 25, 1915' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.-

a 3 FIGIO.

INVE/VTOR THE NORRIS PETERS co.. FHOTO-LITHO. WASHINGTON, u. c.

ESTATEg PATENT 'EENEST L. GALE, $3., OF YONKERS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'lO OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GEARING.

ia-once.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Ennns'r L. GALE, Sn, a citizen of the United States, residing in Yonkers, in the county of lVestchester and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gearing, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in gearing, and is more particularly applicable to that type of gearing known as worm gearing, of'the single or tandem type, such as is commonly used with electric elevators.

()ne of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved means, having novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, whereby the impact.or backlash between the worm andgear teeth is entirely eliminated.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification and appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a common form of elevator employing tandem gearing, with my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a part sectional view of a shock eliminator constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 3 is a side view showing more clearly the position of resilient members relatively to each other; Fig. i is a modification showing a plurality of resilient elements; Fig. 5 shows a modification, in which the worms are mounted freely on the driving shaft; Figs. .6, 7 and 8, are diagrammatic views of the worms and gears by the aid of which I willeXplain the operation and advantages of my invention; Fig. 9 is a modification showing the application of my invention to a single worm and gear; Fig. 10 is a modification showingtwo worms or tandem gearing, in which one of the worms is mounted freely on the worm shaft.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the several views.

Essentially my invention consists of an arrangement for permitting rotation of the worm or worms independently of the driver after the braking power has been applied thereto, and in the provision of adjustable means for applying a torque of predetermined strength to the worm or worms, to effect the constant engagement of the worm Y Specification of Letters Patent.

'17 or 18. Interposed between the top tension of said springs Patented May'25, 1915.

Serial No. 788,407.

teeth with the gear teeth, and likewise the teeth of the intermeshing gear wheels during the said period, at which time and another certain direction of :travel of the load the shock and jar caused by the impact between the parts above enumerated is most noticeable as will hereinafter be more fully pointed out.

A car G and counterweight F1 are secured at opposite ends of a cable 1, which passes over fixed overhead sheaves 6, and around a drum 2, which can be actuated by any suitable motive power, such as an electric motor M, and through the double worm and gear connection (or tandem gearing) D, which is contained in a suitable casing E. The tandem gearing is of a well known construction and comprises two oppositely pitched worms 3 and l formel on the drive shaft 5, the worms meshing with gears 6 and 7, respectively, which also mesh with each other. Any brake apparatus such as an electromagnetic brake apparatus B as shown, may be employed for applying the braking power.

it come now to the descriptionof my shock eliminator S, which is shown in detail in Fig. 2, and comprises a pulley 8, to which a brake band 9, associated with the brake B is applied, said pulley being secured by means of bolts 10 to a collar 11, which is fixed by a key 12, to the driving shaft 13. A driving connection between the driving shaft 13 and the driven shaft 5 is effected by means of a collar 14, fixed by a key 15 to the shaft 5, said collar having a lug 16, formed integral therewith which ce-acts with lugs 17 or 18 formed integrally with the pulley 8, depending on the rotation of the shaft 13. The faces of the lug 16 are provided with. a lining of leather 19, or any other suitable material which may be adapted for the purpose of preventing noise upon the engagement therewith by the lugs and bottom faces of the lugs 16, and the lugs 17 and 18, are compression springs 20 and 21, respectively, said springs being seated in suitable pockets 22, formed in said lugs; the being adjustable by adjusting bolts 23. It will be seen that upon rotation of the driving shaft 13 in one direction or the other, one orthe other of the lugs 17 or 18 will be brought into engagement with either the top or bottom face of the lug 16, depending on the direction of rotation of the said driving shaft, and consequently compressing one or the other of the springs 20 or 21. The distance between the co-acting faces of the lugs is limited, as will be seen, this feature being of consider: able importance, as it prevents the full compression of the springs 20 or 21, thereby preventing an excessive torque to be exerted thereby, as it is to be particularly understood that the function of these springs is simply to apply a torque of suflicient strength to effect the rotation of the worm or worms as hereinafter pointed out. It is also to be particularly noted that in my form of connection between the driving and driven shafts, I permit rotation of the driven shaft after the braking power is applied to the driving shaft, this'feature differing from the ordinary practice wherein the braking power is applied directly. to the driven or worm shaft.

Although a single set of lugs and springs, etc., will effect the desired results, it is preferable and lugs, as shown in Fig. 4, because with this arrangement, the driving strain on the driven shaft 5 is equalized.

Fig. 7 illustrates the relative faces of the gear teeth and worm teeth which are 1n driving engagement with the parts at rest and with the car empty, the counterbalance which in practice overbalances the empty car, effecting the engagement of said faces. The action of the springs 20 and 21 on the driven shaft are equalized I will now describe the operation of my invention by making reference to' the diagrammatic views, Figs. 6,7 and 8. Fig. 6 illustrates the relative position of the double worm and gear teeth, upon lowering the car which for example we willsay weighs 4000 lbs. against a counterbalance of 6000 lbs. The gears 6 and 7 will rotate in a direction as indicated by the arrows, and the worms will rotate in a clockwise direction looking from the right hand end of the worm shaft, and the indicated lugs will be face to face, thereby effecting a positive driving connection between the shafts13 and 5. I N e will now assume the brake is applied; the momentum of the moving mass will tend to continue the rotation of the gears 6 and 7 in the same relative direction as indicated, and in so doing the teeth thereof will strike the adjacent teeth on the worms, and when the mass comes to rest, the differ nce of 2000 lbs. on the counterbalance side will cause the gears to settle back against the worm teeth with a hammer blow effect. This backlash of the gears causes undue strain andwear on the teeth of the worm and gear teeth, and also thereof will be to provide two sets of these springs,

undesirable shocks and jars to passengers in the car, but with the application of my invention thereto, the backlash is entirely eliminated, as it will readily be seen that the torque exerted by the spring 21 which is now compressed, causes the worms to rotate in a manner whereby the' driving faces kept into engagement with the driving faces of the gear teeth, thereby preventing the settling back or in other words the backlash of said gear wheels. If under these car travel is reversed, the same relativefaces of the gear teeth and worms will remain in engagement, the 2000 lbs. overbalance on the counterweight side of the drum keeping said faces into engagement, in which case, the tendency of the gears 6 and 7 will be to effect a driving action on the worms, and

consequently the tendency of the counterweight in being brought to rest will be to keep the said faces in engagement.

WVe will now change the loadconditions and add 4000 lbs. to the car. overbalance on the car side of the drum will cause the gear wheels to rotate in a'manner whereby the faces of the gear the faces in engagement with worms as shown in Fig. 7, will be brought into engagement with their respective. adjacen worm teeth, and if the car is now lowered, said faces will remain in constant engagement, due to the fact that the 2000 lbs. overbalance on the car side of the drum causes a driving action on the worms. If the car is lifted, the said faces still remain in contact, but under this condition of operating the gears 6 and 7 will have a tendency to rotate due to the momentum in bringing the moving mass to rest after the brake is applied, and the extra 2000 lbs. overbalance on the same conditions the direction of r The 2000 lbs.

teeth opposite I car side of the drum will cause said gears to settle back as in the case heretofore explained. In this instancethe spring 20 is efi'ective and causes rotation of the worms, in a manner to keep the respective driving faces in engagement, thereby preventing the settling back or backlash of the gear wheels and eliminates shock and jars. Fig. 8 shows more clearly the space or lost motion between the gear teeth and the worms. 7 y invention is equally efi'ective when applied to a drive comprising only a single worm and gear connection, Fig. 9 illus-w trating my invention applied to such type of drive.

In Fig. 5 the worms 3 and 4 are mounted loosely on the driven shaft 5. A collar 24' is rotatable with the said shaft5 and is provided with lugs 25 which coact with lugs 27 or 28 on the worms 3 and 4, to effect a driving connection therefor. tween the top and bottom facesof the lugs 25, and the lugs 27 and 28, are compression springs 20 and 21, which are seated in Interposed besuitable pockets 22 formed in said lugs, the tension of said sprin'gsbeing adjustable by means'of adjusting bolts '23. The worms are seated against abutments or collars 29 formed integral with the shaft 5, said abut- 1nents,together with the nuts 30 preventing aXial movement of the worms. With the worms mounted loosely on the shaft 5, the usual form of brake connection can be used, that is wherein the brake coupling forms a rigid connection between the driving and driven shaft, as it will readily beseen, that when the 'brake'is applied to the worm shaft the worms being mounted freely thereon will be free'to rotate, and one or the other sets of springs 27 or 28 will become effective and rotate said worms to prevent the backlash between the gears and worms.

In the modification shown in Fig. 10, the worm 3 is mounted loosely on the shaft 5, said worm being held against axial movement by the collar 29 and nut 30. The worm a is formed integral with'the shaft 5 and is provided with alug 16 which co-aots with lugs 17" or 18 formed integral with the worm 3, to effect a drivingconnection therefor. Compression springs 20 and 21 are interposed between the lugs and effect the rotation of the worm 3 after the worm i has been brought to a stop. When the gear 6 has a tendency to rotate after the moving mass has been brought to a stop, the teeth on the worm 3 will follow upthe teeth of said gear, and prevent the backlash between the gear 6 and the worm 3. The gear 6 being in mesh with the gear 7 will there fore prevent the backlash between the said gear and the worm t meshing therewith.

It will now be seen, that with my invention I eliminate shock and backlash between the gears, which eliminates considerably eXcessive wear thereon, and insures the smooth starting andstopping of the car.

Various other modifications might obviously be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts. I wish therefore not to be limited to the precise details and arrangements of parts as herein show and described.

What I claim is 1. In a gearing, the combination with intermeshing gears, a shaft, means for re tarding the shaft, and a yielding driving connection between the shaft and one of the gears for permitting a partial rotation of the latter named gear, upon the application of the retarding means.

2. A shaft, intermeshing gears driven from the said shaft, means for retarding the shaft, and means co-acting with said shaft and one of the gears for effecting a further rotation of the last named gear upon the application of the retarding means.

3. In a gearing, the combination with a driving member, of a brake therefor, intermeshing gears rotated by the said driving member, and means operable independently of the said driving member for applying a torque of a predetermined strength to one of the said gears, upon the application of the brake.

4. In a shock eliminator, the combination with a shaft, tandem gearing comprising oppositely pitched worms driven from the said shaft, means for retarding the shaft, and=means co-acting with thesaid shaft and the worms for effecting a further rotation of the worms upon the application of the retarding means.

5. In shock eliminator, the combination with tandem gearing comprising oppositely pitched worms, a shaft adapted to rotate the worms, a connection between the shaft and the worms for permitting a partial rotation of the worms independently of the rotation of the said shaft, and means for effecting the said partial rotation of the worms.

6. In a shock eliminator, the combination with tandem gearing comprising oppositely pitched worms, a shaft adaptedto rotate the worms, a connection between the shaft and the worms for permitting a partial rotation of the worms independently of the rotation of the said shaft, and resilient means for effecting the said partial rotation of the worms.

7. In a shock eliminator, the combination with tandem gearing comprising oppositely pitched worms, a shaft adapted to rotate the worms, a connectionbetween the shaft and the worms for permitting a partial rotation of the worms independently of the rotation of the said shaft, and variable means for effecting the said partial rotation of the worms.

8. In a shock eliminator, the combination with tandem gearing comprising oppositely pitched worms, a shaft adapted to rotate the worms, a connection between the shaft and the worms for permitting a partial rotation of the worms independently of the rotation of the said shaft, and a spring for effecting the said partial rotation of the worms.

9. In a shock eliminator, the combination with tandem gearing comprising oppositely pitched worms, a shaft adapted to rotate the worms, a connection between the shaft and the worms for permitting a partial rotation of the worms independently of the rotation of the said shaft, and springs for effecting the said partial rotation of the worms in either direction.

10. In a shock eliminator, the combination with tandem gearing comprising oppositely pitched worms, a shaft adapted to rotate the worms, a connection between the shaft and the worms for permitting a partial rotation of the worms independently rotation of rotation of applying a torque to the said means.

12. In a shock eliminator, the combination with tandem gearing comprising oppositely pitched worms, gears meshing with the Worms and connected with each other, a shaft adapted to rotate the worms, a connection between the worms and the said shaft for permitting a partial rotation of the worms independently of the rotation of the said shaft, and means for applying a torque of a predetermined strength to the said worms.

13. In a shock eliminator, the combination with tandem gearing comprising oppositely pitched worms, gears meshing with the worms and connected with each other, a shaft adapted to rotate the worms, means for retarding the shaft, a connection between the worms and the said shaft for permitting a partial rotation of the worms upon the operation of the retarding means, and means operable independently of the said shaft for applying a torque of a predetermined strength to the said worms.

1a. In a shock eliminator, the combination with tandem gearing comprising oppositely pitched worms, gears meshing with the worms and connected with each other, a shaft adapted to rotate the worms, means for retarding the shaft, a connection beveen the worms and the said shaft for permitting a partial rotation of the worms upon the operation of the retarding means, and resilient means independent of the rotation of the said shaft, for applying a torque of predetermined strength to the said worms, upon the operation of the said retarding means.

15. In an elevator hoisting apparatus, the combination with a driving member, a brake therefor, tandem gearing comprising a shaft having oppositely pitched worms adapted to be driven by the said driving member, a connection between the said worms and the driving member, for permitting a partial rotation of the worms upon the application of the brake, plying a torque of a predetermined strength to the said worms upon the said application of the brake,

the said and means for ap 16. In an elevator hoisting apparatus, the combination with a driving member, a brake therefor, tandem gearing comprising a shaft having oppositely pitched worms thereon adapted to be driven by said driving mem ber, gears meshing with the worms and connected with each other, a connection between the said worms and the driving member, for permitting a partial rotation of the worms when the brake is applied, and, resilient means operable independently of the said driving member for applying a torque of predetermined strength to the said worms.

'17. In an elevator hoisting apparatus, the combination with a driving member, a brake therefor, tandem gearing comprising a shaft having oppositely pitched worms thereon adapted to be driven by said driving member, gears meshing with the worms and connected with each other, a connection between the said worms and the driving member, for permitting a partial rotation of the worms when the brake is applied, and

springs adjustable to apply a torque of a predetermined strength to the said worms. 18. In an elevator hoisting apparatus, the combination with a driving member, a brake therefor, tandem gearing comprising a shaft having right and lefthand worms adapted to be driven by the said driving member, the said worms having a partial rotation when the said shaft ceases to drive the said. worms, gears meshing with the worms and connected with each other, and variable means for applying a torque to the said worms, upon the application of the brake. In a gearing, the combination of a worm and a gear meshing therewith, a shaft adapted to rotate the gear, and means independent of the rotation of the shaft'for effecting a further rotation of the worm. V V

20. In a gearing, the combination of a worm and gear meshing therewith, a shaft for driving the gear, and means adapted to effect a partial rotation of the worm When the shaft ceases to drive the worm.

21. In a gearing, the combination of a worm and gear meshing therewith, a shaft adapted to rotate the worm, a connection 1 between the shaft and the worm for permitting a partial rotation of the worm, independently of the rotation of the shaft, and means for effecting the said partial rotation of the Worm.

In testimony whereof, Ihave signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST L. GALE, SR.

Witnesses WALTER C. STRANG, JAMES G. BETHELL.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. r 

